Introduction
The kansas city chiefs vs los angeles chargers match player stats from Week 15 tell the story of a 16-13 Chargers win at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 14, 2025. Los Angeles improved to 10-4 while Kansas City dropped to 6-8 on the season. The Chargers were fresh off a win over the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, while the Chiefs needed a victory paired with other results to keep their playoff hopes alive. Kansas City played without cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was inactive with a knee injury, and the Chargers were without receiver Quentin Johnston due to a groin issue. The game turned late when quarterback Patrick Mahomes left with a knee injury on a Chiefs possession, and backup Gardner Minshew threw a fourth quarter interception that sealed the result for Los Angeles.
Match Overview
| Category |
Details |
| Date |
December 14, 2025 |
| Venue |
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO |
| Competition |
NFL Week 15, 2025 season |
| Final Score |
Chargers 16, Chiefs 13 |
| Records After Game |
Chargers 10-4, Chiefs 6-8 |
Pre-Match Context
Los Angeles entered the game as the AFC’s No. 5 seed at 9-4, chasing the division-leading Denver Broncos and coming off a statement win over Philadelphia. Kansas City arrived at 6-7 knowing a loss would move them closer to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Quarterback Justin Herbert played through a broken left hand for the Chargers, while Mahomes led a patchwork Chiefs offensive line dealing with multiple in-game injuries. Kansas City was without cornerback Trent McDuffie, and receiver Xavier Worthy briefly left the field before returning. The Chargers played without wide receiver Quentin Johnston, and safety R.J. Mickens exited with a shoulder injury during the contest.
Quarter by Quarter Score
| Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Final |
| Chargers |
3 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
16 |
| Chiefs |
7 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
Quarter by Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Kansas City moved the ball well on its opening drive, an 11-play march capped by a 12-yard Patrick Mahomes touchdown run. Harrison Butker’s extra point made it 7-0. Los Angeles answered on its own long drive, settling for a 49-yard Cameron Dicker field goal to trail 7-3 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Kansas City extended its lead with a 27-yard Harrison Butker field goal, then added a 47-yard Butker field goal with 38 seconds left before halftime to go up 13-3. Los Angeles struck right back, driving 60 yards in five plays capped by a 16-yard Justin Herbert touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Cameron Dicker’s extra point made it 13-10 at the break.
Third Quarter
The Chargers tied the game at 13-13 on an 11-play drive finished by a 23-yard Cameron Dicker field goal. Los Angeles then took its first lead of the game late in the quarter, with Dicker connecting on a 49-yard field goal to make it 16-13. No points were scored by Kansas City in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Neither team found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Kansas City drove into Chargers territory but linebacker Daiyan Henley intercepted a Mahomes pass at the 1-yard line to end the threat. Mahomes left the game with a knee injury on a later series, and backup Gardner Minshew threw a game-ending interception to safety Derwin James with 20 seconds remaining.
Team Stats Comparison
| Stat |
Chargers |
Chiefs |
| Total Yards |
295 |
239 |
| Turnovers |
1 |
2 |
| 1st Downs |
18 |
17 |
| Time of Possession |
34:42 |
25:18 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The box score shows a game controlled by field position and turnovers rather than explosive plays. Kansas City moved the ball efficiently early but could not sustain drives once Los Angeles adjusted.
- Los Angeles held the ball for 34:42 compared to 25:18 for Kansas City.
- The Chargers committed only one turnover against two takeaways forced by the Chiefs.
- Kansas City went 1 for 3 in the red zone while Los Angeles converted 1 of 2 chances.
- The Chiefs were penalized nine times for 64 yards compared to five penalties for 50 yards on Los Angeles.
- Patrick Mahomes passed for 189 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception before leaving with injury.
Full Box Score – Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert led the Chargers offense with 210 passing yards and a touchdown while playing through a broken hand. Omarion Hampton paced the ground game, and four different receivers caught passes of 15 yards or more. The defense forced two interceptions, including the game-sealing pick from Derwin James.
Passing
| Player |
Comp/Att |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
| Justin Herbert |
19/29 |
210 |
1 |
1 |
Rushing
| Player |
Carries |
Yards |
Average |
TD |
| Omarion Hampton |
15 |
61 |
4.1 |
0 |
| Kimani Vidal |
12 |
33 |
2.8 |
0 |
| Justin Herbert |
2 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
Receiving
| Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Average |
TD |
| Oronde Gadsden II |
4 |
61 |
15.3 |
0 |
| Tre Harris |
3 |
49 |
16.3 |
0 |
| Keenan Allen |
5 |
36 |
7.2 |
0 |
| Ladd McConkey |
2 |
20 |
10.0 |
0 |
| KeAndre Lambert-Smith |
1 |
16 |
16.0 |
1 |
| Kimani Vidal |
1 |
15 |
15.0 |
0 |
Kicking
| Player |
FG (made/att) |
XP (made/att) |
Total Points |
| Cameron Dicker |
3/3 |
1/1 |
10 |
Returns
| Player |
Returns |
Yards |
Average |
| KeAndre Lambert-Smith |
4 |
93 |
23.3 |
Defense
| Player |
Tackles |
Sacks |
Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Odafe Oweh |
4 |
2.0 |
— |
| Denzel Perryman |
9 |
0.0 |
— |
| Tuli Tuipulotu |
4 |
2.0 |
— |
| Da’Shawn Hand |
4 |
0.0 |
— |
| Tony Jefferson |
5 |
0.0 |
— |
| Derwin James |
10 |
0.0 |
INT |
| Khalil Mack |
3 |
1.0 |
— |
| Daiyan Henley |
4 |
0.0 |
INT |
Full Box Score – Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes threw for 189 yards and ran for a touchdown before exiting with a knee injury late in the fourth quarter. Travis Kelce led all receivers with 70 yards on seven catches, and Isiah Pacheco carried most of the rushing workload. The defense generated pressure but could not force enough stops in the second half.
Passing
| Player |
Comp/Att |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
| Patrick Mahomes |
16/28 |
189 |
0 |
1 |
| Gardner Minshew |
3/5 |
22 |
0 |
1 |
Rushing
| Player |
Carries |
Yards |
Average |
TD |
| Isiah Pacheco |
11 |
21 |
1.9 |
0 |
| Patrick Mahomes |
2 |
15 |
7.5 |
1 |
| Kareem Hunt |
6 |
12 |
2.0 |
0 |
| Brashard Smith |
2 |
1 |
0.5 |
0 |
Receiving
| Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Average |
TD |
| Travis Kelce |
7 |
70 |
10.0 |
0 |
| Rashee Rice |
7 |
51 |
7.3 |
0 |
| Tyquan Thornton |
2 |
47 |
23.5 |
0 |
| Xavier Worthy |
2 |
35 |
17.5 |
0 |
| Kareem Hunt |
1 |
8 |
8.0 |
0 |
Kicking
| Player |
FG (made/att) |
XP (made/att) |
Total Points |
| Harrison Butker |
2/2 |
1/1 |
7 |
Returns
| Player |
Returns |
Yards |
Average |
| Nikko Remigio |
4 |
102 |
25.5 |
Defense
| Player |
Tackles |
Sacks |
Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Drue Tranquill |
14 |
0.0 |
— |
| Nick Bolton |
11 |
0.0 |
— |
| Bryan Cook |
7 |
0.0 |
— |
| Chamarri Conner |
6 |
0.0 |
— |
| Nohl Williams |
4 |
0.0 |
— |
| Jaylen Watson |
4 |
1.0 |
— |
| George Karlaftis |
3 |
0.0 |
— |
| Charles Omenihu |
3 |
1.5 |
— |
Justin Herbert directed the winning drives in the second half despite playing through a broken hand suffered earlier in the season. His touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith cut the deficit before halftime and shifted momentum toward Los Angeles. Derwin James delivered the decisive defensive play, intercepting Gardner Minshew’s pass intended for Travis Kelce with 20 seconds remaining. Travis Kelce was the most productive Chiefs pass catcher, drawing nine targets and finishing with 70 receiving yards. Patrick Mahomes ran for a first quarter touchdown and threw for 189 yards before his night ended early due to injury.
| Player |
Team |
Stat Line |
| Justin Herbert |
Chargers |
210 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Derwin James |
Chargers |
10 tackles, 1 INT |
| Travis Kelce |
Chiefs |
7 catches, 70 yards |
| Patrick Mahomes |
Chiefs |
189 yards, 1 rush TD, 1 INT |
Starting Lineups
| Position |
Chargers |
Chiefs |
| Quarterback |
Justin Herbert |
Patrick Mahomes |
| Running Back |
Omarion Hampton |
Isiah Pacheco |
| Tight End |
Oronde Gadsden II |
Travis Kelce |
| Wide Receiver |
Keenan Allen |
Rashee Rice |
| Linebacker |
Daiyan Henley |
Nick Bolton |
| Safety |
Derwin James |
Bryan Cook |
| Cornerback |
Cam Hart |
Jaylen Watson |
| Edge Rusher |
Khalil Mack |
George Karlaftis |
Injury Report
| Player |
Injury |
Status |
| Trent McDuffie (Chiefs) |
Knee |
Inactive |
| Quentin Johnston (Chargers) |
Groin |
Inactive |
| R.J. Mickens (Chargers) |
Shoulder |
Left game |
| Xavier Worthy (Chiefs) |
Injury during game |
Returned |
| Tyquan Thornton (Chiefs) |
Concussion protocol |
Did not return |
| Jaylon Moore (Chiefs) |
Knee |
Left, did not return |
| Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) |
Left knee |
Left game, later confirmed torn ACL |
The absence of Trent McDuffie left Kansas City thinner in the secondary against a Chargers passing attack that produced 210 yards. Tyquan Thornton’s concussion and Jaylon Moore’s knee injury further depleted an already patchwork Chiefs lineup in the second half. The most significant blow came late, when Patrick Mahomes exited with what was later confirmed as a torn ACL, forcing Gardner Minshew into relief duty for the final possessions.
Season Series and Head to Head
Los Angeles swept the 2025 season series against Kansas City after also winning the September 5 opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| Date |
Result |
| September 5, 2025 |
Chargers 27, Chiefs 21 |
| December 14, 2025 |
Chargers 16, Chiefs 13 |
Conference / League Standings
Denver led the AFC West at the time of this game while Los Angeles held the No. 5 seed and Kansas City faced elimination from playoff contention.
| Team |
Record |
| Denver Broncos |
11-2 |
| Los Angeles Chargers |
10-4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs |
6-8 |
| Las Vegas Raiders |
3-11 |
| Category |
Details |
| TV Network |
CBS |
| Streaming |
Paramount+ |
| Location |
Kansas City, MO |
| Kickoff Time |
1:00 PM local |
FAQ
What was the final score of the Chiefs vs Chargers game on December 14, 2025?
The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 16-13 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Who led the Chargers in passing yards in this game?
Justin Herbert led Los Angeles with 210 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 19 of 29 attempts.
What happened to Patrick Mahomes during the game?
Mahomes left the game with a left knee injury in the fourth quarter, later confirmed by the team as a torn ACL.
Who intercepted Gardner Minshew to seal the win for Los Angeles?
Chargers safety Derwin James intercepted a pass intended for Travis Kelce with 20 seconds left in regulation.
Did the Chiefs make the playoffs after this loss?
The loss combined with other results eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention for the 2025 season.
How many times did the Chargers and Chiefs play each other in 2025?
The two teams met twice in 2025, with Los Angeles winning both games by a combined score of 43-34.
Which players were inactive for this Week 15 matchup?
Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie and Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston were both inactive due to injury.
Conclusion
The win moved Los Angeles to 10-4 and kept the Chargers in playoff position behind division leader Denver. For Kansas City, the loss all but ended any realistic path to the postseason for the 2025 season. Field position and turnovers decided the outcome, with the Chargers controlling the ball for nearly 35 minutes and forcing two second half interceptions. The bigger story for the Chiefs going forward is the health of Patrick Mahomes, whose torn ACL will keep him out for the rest of the season. Los Angeles now turns its attention to a road trip to Dallas, while Kansas City closes the year with Gardner Minshew at quarterback.
Sources: ESPN, Pro-Football-Reference, CBS Sports, FOX Sports